Scrooge? Not me, insists Peters
Shrewsbury chief Gary Peters today took the wraps off the preparations for his side's hectic Christmas programme and declared: "It's fit for the Premiership." Shrewsbury chief Gary Peters today took the wraps off the preparations for his side's hectic Christmas programme and declared: "It's fit for the Premiership." Peters and his staff have spent hours poring over the best way to tackle a daunting schedule which features four games in 11 days, beginning with Friday's visit of Barnet. The meticulous plan will see Town's players train on Christmas night to prepare for the following day's trip to Walsall. But Peters insisted: "I don't feel like Scrooge because they are spending most of the day with their families but we are also preparing in the right way." Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
Peters and his staff have spent hours poring over the best way to tackle a daunting schedule which features four games in 11 days, beginning with Friday's visit of Barnet.
The meticulous plan will see Town's players train on Christmas night - to prepare for the following day's trip to Walsall - and have three overnight stays over the festive period as they attempt to put themselves back in the promotion race.
"WIthout doubt this is the most important part of the season to get the preparations right and I'm more pleased with ours than at any other time in my career," he said.
"It starts on Friday by bringing the Barnet game forward.
"Saturday will be a busy day of Christmas shopping for everyone so we feel we might get a bigger crowd on Friday and it also gives us an extra day to prepare for Walsall.
"But they won't be able to eat too much or drink at all because they will be in training at 6pm on the pitch under the lights.
"I don't feel like Scrooge because they are spending most of the day with their families but we are also preparing in the right way.
"We will then have an overnight stop and head to Walsall at about 11.30am."
Town's next big obstacle comes on December 30 when they face the long -trip to the north east - and will briefly have a taste of the Premiership high-life.
"We will travel up on the Friday and then train at Middlesborough's training ground," said Peters.
"After that game the players will come in again on the Sunday for evening training again and we will spend New Year's Eve in a quiet hotel to prepare for the Stockport game.
"The preparation couldn't be better and I have told the chairman (Roland Wycherley) that it's the type of thing that Premiership clubs do.
"It's great credit to him because we have got two overnight stays for our closest away game of the season and a home game.
"And we have had a few unexpected things like bringing in Scott Shearer because of the injury to Ryan Esson and signing one or two other lads so it's not as if we are way under budget."
Shrewsbury reserves defeated Blackburn 2-1 in the Pontins League Cup at Gay Meadow last night. The goals came from Chris Humphrey and Leo Fortune-West, while Sagi Burton made his comeback after a four-game suspension.
Town's Christmas itinerary :
Friday December 22: Home game against Barnet
Saturday December 23: Light jogging at home but no official training.
Christmas Eve: Training as normal.
Christmas Day: A 6pm training session under the Gay Meadow lights before players and staff depart to a Shrewsbury hotel for an overnight stay.
Boxing Day: The big derby at Walsall.
Wednesday December 27: Day off.
Thursday December 28: Training as normal.
Friday December 29: Travel up to the north-east before staging a training session at Middlesborough's training ground.
Saturday December 30: Clash with Darlington before making the long trip back to Shropshire.
New Year's Eve: Another evening training session at Gay Meadow before another overnight hotel stay in Shropshire.
New Year's Day: Early morning training session at Sundorne - going through set piece routines - before the visit of Stockport concludes the Christmas and New Year programme.
By James Garrison
